Brazil Senate will open trial on Rousseff impeachment

Insight

The impeachment process for Dilma Rousseff is entering its final stages in Brasilia. The trial begins on Thursday. By Tuesday, Brazil’s senators are expected to hold a final vote that could end her presidency.

CCTV America’s Paulo Cabral is in Brasilia following the trial.

Dilma Rousseff never had it easy. Right after her reelection victory in 2014 there were already opposition calls for an impeachment. A little more than one year later

In December 2015, the process officially began in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies.

Now, it is reaching a climax right here in the Senate. Ousting Rousseff will require a two-thirds majority of the Senate-54 of the 81 Senators. The vote is scheduled for Tuesday.

The president of the Senate said he expects no more delays.

“The Senate is absolutely aware of the greatness of its role now and will do its part. We will vote the impeachment in Tuesday’s session and expect a result in the first hours of Wednesday,” President of the Senate, Renan Calheiros said.

Before that happens, on Thursday, Friday and if necessary the weekend, witnesses will give testimony.

Two for the prosecution, six for the defense. On Monday, Dilma Rousseff, herself, will go to Senate to deliver a statement. She will also answer questions posed by the senators. After that trhe prosecution and defense will make their final arguments.

On Tuesday, the Senators will make speeches limited to 10 minutes each and cast their votes.

“There is much anxiety in Brazil to see the end of this process. I think that the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff would mean the beginning of the end of the country’s political crises,” Senator Raimundo Lira, the President of the Impeachment Committee said.

The Worker’s Party Senate Leader admits it’ll be very hard to stop the impeachment, but he believes people now realize that Rousseff’s successor could prove far worse.

“The interim government is proving to be absolutely unable to fight the economic crises despite everything they said before. And the opposition said Dilma Rousseff had to be removed because of corruption, and now people see all the corrupt politicians that are in this government,” Worker’s Party Senate leader, Senator Humberto Costa said.

A return of Dilma Rousseff to power would come now as a big surprise. Last minute negotiations are still taking place here in Brasilia as both sides look to secure additional votes, but they are seen as unlikely to change the widely anticipated outcome of a final defeat for Rousseff.


Paulo Sotero on Rousseff impeachment preview

For more about the impact on Brazilian politics and the region economy and how Rousseff’s trial could impact them, CCTV America’s Asieh Namdar interviewed Paulo Sotero, the director of the Brazil Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.